Antiallergic composition

ABSTRACT

An antiallergic composition that is moderate for the human body and skin, and has reduced side-effects that comprises a cold-water extract from hop tissue or flavonoid glucosides separated from the cold-water extract from hop tissue.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an antiallergic composition.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, some components contained in tealeaves are reported to havevarious beneficial effects on human. Increasing interest is beingdirected toward the antioxidant properties of polyphenols such ascatechins, in particular (Non-patent document 1). It has also beenreported that antioxidant components can be obtained by adsorption ofthe water-soluble fraction of hop bract onto gel-type syntheticadsorbents (Patent document 1).

-   [Patent document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 3477628-   [Non-patent document 1] New Diet Therapy. Vo. 19, 9 (2003)

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Human beings possess the immune system to protect themselves from theinvasion of foreign substances such as bacteria, pollen, mites, and soon. The human bodies eliminate these antigens by producing antibodiesand enhancing our lymphocyte responses against them. In some cases,however, overreactions to foreign substances were caused by the immuneresponse. These overreactions are harmful to the body and triggervarious diseases. Disorders caused by these overreactions are referredto as “allergies”. Allergic disorder can be classified as immediate-type(type I-III) and delayed-type (type IV) based on its reaction mechanism.

Immediate-type allergic disorders, in which immunoglobulin E (IgE)antibodies play a crucial role, are frequently observed. IgE is producedby B cells, which respond to invading allergens. Cross-linking of IgEmediated by the binding of multivalent antigen at the surface of mastcells and basophiles triggers the release of many chemical mediators,such as histamine, serotonine from these cells. Type I allergic symptomsare induced by these chemical mediators. For example, skin rash (hives)accompanied with its redness and swelling caused by itching, runny nose,eye irritation, sneezing and bronchial asthma are induced by thesechemical mediators.

These allergic disorders are usually treated with antispastic drugs,which relax smooth muscle, sympathomimetic drugs, which inhibit theincrease of capillary permeability, or histamine release inhibitors.However, there is a risk of side effects caused by the ingestion ofthese drugs, because many of them are chemical synthetic drugs.

This invention was carried out to solve aforementioned problems of theprior art. The object of this invention was to provide an anti-allergicsubstance that has adequate safety and fewer side effects.

Means for Solving the Problems

Inhibitory effect of various food components on histamine release fromhuman basophilic cells was investigated. As a result of this screening,the present investors have discovered that an extract obtained from hopshave a property to inhibit histamine release, and the invention has beencompleted upon this discovery.

That is, the invention relates to an anti-allergic composition composedof a cold-water extract of hop tissue.

This antiallergic composition inhibits histamine release. For example,the oral administration of this antiallergic composition significantlyinhibited the ear swelling caused by the immediate-type allergicreaction such as passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. This immediate allergicreaction was carried out as follows; mouse anti-DNP IgE antibodies wereintradermally injected into mice auricle, and then antigen such as DNPconjugated human serum albumin (HSA) was injected into the caudal vein.Thirty minutes after the injection of antigen, ear thickness of mousewas measured, and the severity of immediate allergic reaction could beevaluated from the increase of ear thickness induced by this reaction.Moreover, since the antiallergic composition of this invention is anextract derived from natural hops, and the extraction process is carriedout with cold water and does not requires any organic solvents, the riskof side-effects is low and the anti-allergic composition can be used asan antiallergic drug that has an adequate safety for the human body andskin.

In Patent document 1 mentioned above, the hot water extract is obtainedat 95° C. or 80° C. from the hop bract, but such a hot water extractexhibits virtually no antiallergic property, as demonstrated by theexamples and comparative examples provided below. Furthermore, since thecold-water extract does not lose its antiallergic property even whenheated, the active ingredients of the hot water extract and cold-waterextract may be considered to be distinctly different.

In order to obtain a suitable extract for the antiallergic compositionof the invention, a hop aimed at brewing is preferable to other hops andthe hop tissue may be from stems, cones or leaves. The tissue may be aground product of dried cones, preferably the ground product of driedcones from which at least a portion including lupulin and smallercomponents has been removed, and more preferably the ground product isfrom the dried bract.

Hops aimed at the brewing of effervescent alcoholic beverages such asbeer are used in the form of hardened hop pellets obtained by drying ofthe cones (with the stems and leaves removed), grinding and then siftingthrough a sieve, with the ground product that fails to pass through thesieve being discarded. The discarded ground product is the groundproduct from which at least a portion including lupulin and smallercomponents has been removed, and because it consists mostly of thebract, a major contribution to reduction of industrial waste could beachieved and hop bract could be effectively utilized, by using this as amaterial for extraction of an antiallergic composition.

The ground product of the dried cones is also preferably a groundproduct of frozen dried cones. If the dried cones are frozen beforegrinding, the grinding efficiency will be increased and the effect ofheat during grinding will be reduced, thereby allowing the antiallergicactivity of the antiallergic composition in the ground product to bemore stably maintained. Furthermore, since the ground product with thesize of lupulin and smaller passes easily through the sieve, the purityof the ground product with a greater size than lupulin will beincreased, thereby raising the purity of the antiallergic composition.

The tissue may also be hop residue obtained by removing at least aportion of the substances that are extracted by organic solventextraction or supercritical fluid extraction from dried cones. Hop conesaimed at the brewing of effervescent alcoholic beverages such as beerare used as hop pellets and hop extract. The hop residue remaining afterextraction of the hop extract is discarded. Because the discarded hopresidue is obtained by removing at least a portion of the substancesextracted by organic solvent extraction or supercritical fluidextraction, a major contribution to reduced industrial waste can beachieved by using this as a material for extraction of an antiallergiccomposition.

The cold-water extract mentioned above typically includes flavonoidglycosides. The flavonoid glycosides separated from the cold-waterextract are responsible for an antiallergic property and can be used asan antiallergic drug. Such flavonoid glycosides preferably containflavonol glycosides and the flavonol glycosides preferably includekaempferol glycosides. The keampferol glycosides include at least oneselected from the group consisting of kaempferol rutinoside, astragalinand kaempferol malonylglucoside, and the antiallergic composition mayfurther comprise quercetin malonylglucosides as flavonol glycosides. Aflavonol is a compound having the structure of formula (1) below as itsmain nucleus.

Kaempferol glycoside has a skeleton represented by general formula (2)below. When R₁ is hydrogen and R₂ is a rutinose residue in generalformula (2), it is kaempferol rutinoside. When R₁ is hydrogen and R₂ isa glucose residue, it is astragalin. When R₁ is hydrogen and R₂ is amalonylglucose residue, it is kaempferol malonylglucoside (astragalinmalonic acid ester). When R₁ and R₂ are hydrogen in general formula (2),it is kaempferol, and when R₁ is an OH group and R₂ is a malonylglucoseresidue, it is quercetin malonylglucoside (isoquercitrin malonic acidester).

It has been reported that flavonol glycosides could be absorbed from thegastrointestinal tract as a glycoside or hydrolyzed in thegastrointestinal tract and absorbed as the free form (aglycone) whenorally ingested, (Rinsho Eiyo, Vol. 102, No. 3, 285 (2003)). Flavonoidglycosides such as kaempferol (or quercetin) are hydrolyzed and absorbedas their aglycones.

The antiallergic composition can be utilized as a drug, cosmetic, orfood or beverage component.

Effect of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided an anti allergiccomposition with an excellent inhibiting effect against release ofpharmacologically active amines such as histamine and serotonin frommast cells and basophils, for prevention of or alleviation of thesymptoms of allergic conditions such as pollen hypersensitivity. Becausethe anti allergic composition of the invention is derived from a naturalplant, side-effects can be reduced to a satisfactory level and theantiallergic composition is moderate for the human body and skin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an HPLC chromatogram of the flavonol fraction extractedfrom hop leaves with water (Kokusan Furano #18).

FIG. 2 shows an HPLC chromatogram of the flavonol fraction extractedfrom hop pellets with water (Czech Saaz).

FIG. 3 shows the inhibitory effect (%) of the hop extracts obtained inExample 2 and Comparative Example 1-2 on histamine release from humanbasophiles.

FIG. 4 shows the inhibitory effect (%) of the hop extracts obtained inExample 2 and Comparative Example 3-5 on histamine release from humanbasophiles.

FIG. 5 shows the inhibitory effect (%) of the cold-water extract ofExample 2 and a heat treated product of the cold-water extract ofExample 2 on histamine release from human basophiles.

FIG. 6 shows the inhibitory effect (%) of the cold-water extracts ofExamples 2-5 on histamine release from human basophiles.

FIG. 7 shows the effect of the hop-cold water extract on the increase ofear thickness of mouse induced by a passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. Thisimmediate allergic reaction was carried out as follows; mouse anti-DNPIgE antibodies were intradermally injected into mice auricle, and thenantigen such as DNP conjugated human serum albumin (HSA) was injectedinto the caudal vein. Thirty minutes after the injection of antigen, earthickness of mouse was measured, and the severity of immediate allergicreaction could be evaluated from the increase of ear thickness inducedby this reaction.

FIG. 8 shows the effect of distilled water, hop pellet cold-waterextract, hop leaf cold-water extract, and ketotifen fumarate on theincrease of ear thickness of mouse induced by a passive cutaneousanaphylaxis.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The hop varieties aimed at beer brewing such as Czech Saaz, GermanHallertauer Tradition or Kokusan Furano #18 are suitable for thisinvention.

The flavonol content differs depending on the hop variety, and CzechSaaz is preferably used to obtain a hop extract with high anti allergicactivity. The hop tissue used for extraction may be hop leaves, cones orstems. The spent hops obtained during processing of the cones orconcentrated hop pellets, or the residue from carbon dioxide gasextraction (supercritical extraction), may also be used.

The antiallergic composition of the invention is the cold water extractfrom the above mentioned hop tissues, where “cold water” is defined aswater at a temperature below room temperature. The temperature of thecold water is preferably above 0° C. and no higher than 50° C., andnormally it will be from 0-30° C. The temperature of the cold water ismore preferably from 0-10° C., and even more preferably 5±3° C.(especially 5±2° C.). In order to increase the extraction efficiency andshorten the extraction time, a small amount of alcohol, preferablyethanol, may be added at no greater than 10 wt % to the cold water.

If the extraction water is colder than 0° C. the extraction will behampered due to freezing, and if the water is not cold (for example, ifits temperature is above 50° C.), the antiallergic activity will besignificantly reduced, rendering the extract unsuitable for use.

The cold-water extraction of the hop tissue is carried out by anordinary method. For example, the hop pellets and water are placed in acontainer and allowed to stand for a prescribed time with appropriatestirring. The solution obtained after standing may be utilized directlyas a cold-water extract, or the supernatant obtained from centrifugationof the solution (hereinafter referred to as “centrifugal supernatant”)may be collected for use as the cold-water extract. Alternatively, thewater may be removed from the solution obtained after standing or thecentrifugal supernatant, and the dried residue used as the cold-waterextract.

The active ingredient of the antiallergic composition of the inventionis preferably a cold-water extract of the ground product of dried hopbract, and more preferably the active ingredient is the cold-waterextract from the ground product of dried hop cones with at least aportion of the ground product including lupulin and smaller componentsremoved. The ground product of dried cones used for the cold-waterextraction may be obtained, for example, by a production processcomprising a drying step in which the hop cones are dried to obtaindried cones, a grinding step in which the dried cones are ground toobtain a ground product, and a separating step in which the portion ofthe ground product with the size of lupulin and smaller is removed fromthe ground product.

In the drying step, the hop cones may be dried at a temperature of 100°C. or below and the water removed to an extent allowing preservation ofthe cones, but preferably the drying is carried out at a temperature ofno higher than 55° C. to a water content of 7-9%. The grinding stepaccomplishes efficient fine grinding of the dried cones obtained in themanner described above, and a pulverizer such as a pin mill, hammermill, ball mill or the like may be used. In the separating step, theground dried cones are sifted to obtain the ground product with a longdiameter of, for example, 0.1 mm or greater as a “size larger thanlupulin”. In this case, the size that fails to pass through the sieve ispreferably a long diameter of 0.3 mm or greater, and more preferably along diameter of 0.5 mm or greater. In order to remove the portion ofthe dried cone ground product having a size no larger than lupulin, thedried cone ground product may be sifted using a sieve with an apertureof 0.1, 0.3 or 0.5 mm, for example, and recovering the ground productthat fails to pass through the sieve. The cold-water extraction of theground product of dried cones from which at least a portion includinglupulin and smaller components has been removed may be carried out bythe process described above.

The ground product of dried hop cones used to prepare the antiallergiccomposition of the invention is preferably a ground product from frozendried cones. The method for freezing the dried cones is not particularlyrestricted but is preferably carried out at −10° C. or below, and morepreferably −35° C. or below.

The active ingredient of the antiallergic composition of the inventionmay be a cold-water extract of hop residue obtained by removing at leasta portion of the substances that are extracted by organic solventextraction or supercritical fluid extraction from dried hop cones. Asexamples of organic solvents to be used for organic solvent extractionthere may be mentioned alcohols or hexane, among which C1-4 loweralcohols are preferred and ethanol is most preferred. As examples ofsupercritical fluids to be used for supercritical fluid extraction theremay be mentioned carbon dioxide, water, methane, ethane, ethylene,propane, pentane, methanol and ethanol, among which carbon dioxide ispreferred.

Further separation of the cold-water extract from the hop tissue canyield a flavonoid glycoside, which itself may be applied as anantiallergic composition. Preferred examples of separation methods willnow be explained. First, a step is carried out in which the cold-waterextract is contacted with hexane to obtain a first extract in an aqueousphase (hereinafter referred to as “first step”), and then a step iscarried out in which the first extract is contacted with ethyl acetateto obtain a second extract in the aqueous phase (hereinafter referred toas “second step”). This is followed by a step in which the secondextract is contacted with a poorly water-soluble alcohol (meaning analcohol that fails to mix with water up to a specified proportion) andpreferably a C4-5 alkanol, especially butanol), to obtain a thirdextract (hereinafter referred to as “third step”), whereby a flavonoidglycoside is obtained.

In the first step, the hop extract which is not the desired activeingredient (flavonoid glycosides, etc.) elutes into the hexane and isselectively removed from the cold-water extract. The method ofcontacting the cold-water extract with the hexane may involve, forexample, placing the centrifugal supernatant and hexane in a separatoryfunnel and then shaking the separatory funnel to contact the cold-waterextract and hexane. After contacting the cold-water extract and hexane,the separatory funnel is allowed to stand for separation of the aqueouslayer and hexane layer, and the aqueous layer is used in the secondstep.

In the second step, the first extract obtained in the first step iscontacted with ethyl acetate. This accomplishes extraction of theportion of hop extract other than the desired active ingredient into theethyl acetate. The method of contacting the first extract with the ethylacetate may involve, for example, placing the first extract and ethylacetate in a separatory funnel and then shaking the separatory funnel tocontact the first extract and ethyl acetate. After contacting the firstextract and ethyl acetate, the separatory funnel is allowed to stand forseparation of the aqueous layer and ethyl acetate layer, and the aqueouslayer is used in the third step.

In the third step, the second extract obtained in the second step iscontacted with a poorly water-soluble alcohol to obtain a flavonoidgylcoside. The method of contacting the second extract with the poorlywater-soluble alcohol may involve, for example, placing the secondextract and poorly water-soluble alcohol in a separatory funnel and thenshaking the separatory funnel. The separatory funnel is then allowed tostand for separation of the aqueous layer and the poorly water-solublealcohol layer, with the flavonoid glycoside residing in the poorlywater-soluble alcohol layer. In order to obtain a greater flavonoidglycoside yield, the third step may be repeated several times, andpreferably 2-4 times.

The flavonoid glycoside may be separated by passing the cold-waterextract of the hop tissue through a column packed with a syntheticadsorbent (as examples there may be mentioned synthetic adsorbents suchas Amberlite XAD-4, 7 and 16 (trade names of Organo Co., Ltd.), activecarbon and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP, polyphenol adsorbent), amongwhich XAD-4 is preferred). Specifically, the cold-water extract of thehop tissue is passed through a column packed with a synthetic adsorbentand the adsorbed components are eluted into a mixed solvent of water andmethanol to obtain the flavonoid glycosides.

The antiallergic composition of the invention can be used to prevent oralleviate the symptoms of a variety of allergic diseases includingatopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, angioedema,atopic disease, allergic contact dermatitis, pollen hypersensitivity,hives and the like. That is, it exhibits a function as an antiallergiccomposition.

Because the antiallergic composition of the invention exhibits ahistamine release inhibiting effect and an auricular edema-inhibitingeffect, it is most preferably used to prevent or alleviate the symptomsof atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis and pollen hypersensitivity. Inorder to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of such conditions, it may beprepared as a drug, and especially as a prophylactic or treatment agentfor atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis or pollen hypersensitivity.

Also for the purpose of preventing or alleviating the symptoms of atopicdermatitis, contact dermatitis or pollen hypersensitivity, it may beincluded as a food additive in foods or beverages such as specifichygienic foods, special nutritive food products, nutritionalsupplements, health foods, functional foods, patient foods and the like,or as a cosmetic additive in cosmetics such as skin care products,foundations and makeup products.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will now be explained in greater detail throughexamples, with the understanding that the invention is in no way limitedto the examples. Unless otherwise specified, “%” refers to “wt %”.

Example 1 Cold-Water Extraction from Hop Leaves

Hop leaves (Kokusan Furano #18) were chopped and immersed in a 10-foldamount (w/v) of water, after which the mixture was allowed to standovernight at 5° C. and centrifugally separated at 7000 rpm for 15minutes, and the supernatant was recovered to obtain a cold-waterextract.

Identification of Cold-Water Extract:

The supernatant was transferred to a separatory funnel, hexane was addedand the hexane-migrating components were discarded. Ethyl acetate wasthen added to the aqueous layer, and the ethyl acetate-migratingcomponents were discarded. Finally, n-butanol was added to the aqueouslayer, and the butanol layers obtained by repeating butanol extractionthree times were combined and concentrated under reduced pressure toobtain a flavonol fraction (flavonoid glycosides separated fromcold-water extract from hop tissue).

The obtained flavonol fraction was first analyzed by high performanceliquid chromatography (HPLC). The HPLC analysis was carried out using aC18 column (Waters Symmetry) at 40° C., with a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min.The mobile phase was a linear gradient with 0.05% TFA/H₂O as solution 1and acetonitrile as solution 2, varying the proportion of the twosolutions from 10%-50% over a period of 16 minutes. Detection wascarried out with a 350 nm UV detector.

Each peak of the flavonol fraction was separated by preparative HPLC andthe components of each peak were identified. The fractional separationby HPLC was carried out using a C18 column (Waters SunFire) at 40° C.,with a flow rate of 6 mL/min. The mobile phase was a linear gradientwith 10% MeCN held for 10 minutes and then varying to 60% MeCN over aperiod of 150 minutes. Detection was carried out with a 350 nm UVdetector. The results of HPLC are shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, three main peaks are observed in the flavonolfraction of the hop leaf extract, and all three were identified askaempferol glycosides. Specifically, peak 1 in FIG. 1 is kaempferolrutinoside, peak 2 is astragalin and peak 3 is kaempferolmalonylglucoside. Quercetin glycosides, such as quercetinmalonylglucoside, were essentially undetected.

Example 2 Cold-Water Extraction from Hop Pellets

After placing 1 kg of hop pellets (Czech Saaz: type 90) in 10 L ofdistilled water, the mixture was allowed to stand overnight at 5° C.while occasionally stirring to eliminate the pellet form. It was thencentrifuged at 7000 rpm for 15 minutes and the supernatant was recoveredand concentrated to obtain 150 g of a cold-water extract.

Identification of Cold-Water Extract:

The butanol extraction component of the supernatant was obtained by thesame method as Example 1, and HPLC analysis was conducted to identifythe component. The results of HPLC are shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG.2, three main peaks are observed in the flavonol fraction of the hoppellets extract, and they were identified as kaempferol glycoside(astragalin and kaempferol malonylglucoside) and quercetinmalonylglucoside. Specifically, peak 1 in FIG. 2 is kaempferolmalonylglucoside, peak 2 is astragalin and peak 3 is quercetinmalonylglucoside. Peak 4 in FIG. 2 is rutin, peak 5 is isoquercitrin andpeak 6 is kaempferol rutinoside.

Comparative Example 1

Hop pellets (Czech Saaz: type 90) were extracted with achloroform-methanol solution (chloroform:methanol=3:1) to 1% (w/w). Theextraction was carried out for 2 hours at the boiling point of thechloroform-methanol solution. The yield was approximately 15%.

Comparative Example 2

Hop pellets (Czech Saaz: type 90) were extracted for 2 hours withboiling water to 1% (w/w). The yield was approximately 23%.

Confirmation of Histamine Release Inhibition by Hop Extract

The hop extracts obtained in Example 2 and Comparative Examples 1-2 wereused in the following manner to confirm the histamine releaseinhibition.

An established human basophil cell line (KU812) was cultured at 37° C.under 5% CO₂ using RPMI1640 medium (Gibco) containing 10% fetal calfserum inactivated at 56° C. for 30 minutes. After rinsing the cellstwice with Tyrode solution, they were suspended in Tyrode solution anddispensed in a 1.5 mL volume tube to 2×10⁶ cells/mL. To the cellsuspension there was added a buffering solution in the amount shown inTable 1, 10 mM CaCl₂, 50 μM A23187 and/or a test sample (hop extract),and after histamine release reaction at 37° C. for 20 minutes, it wasplaced in ice for 5 minutes to suspend the reaction.

TABLE 1 Natural release A23187 Total intracellular (negative (positivehistamine control) control) Test sample 10 mM CaCl₂ — 110 μl 110 μl 110μl 50 μM A23187 — — 110 μl 110 μl Test compound — — — 110 μl Buffer 600μl 490 μl 380 μl 270 μl solution Cell 500 μl 500 μl 500 μl 500 μlsuspensions

After centrifugation at 4° C., 1000 rpm for 3 minutes, the supernatantwas collected. The released histamine was extracted from the collectedsupernatant with an organic solvent and reacted with o-phthalaldehyde,and the intensity of the emitted fluorescence was measured at awavelength of 450 nm after excitation with light with a wavelength of350 nm, for quantitation of the released histamine. The totalintracellular histamine was determined by ultrasonic disruption of anequivalent amount of cell suspension in ice for 1 minute, followed bymeasurement of the histamine content of the supernatant obtained bycentrifugation at 4° C., 10,000 rpm for 3 minutes. The histamine releaseinhibition (%) was determined by the formula: 100−{(histamine content ofsupernatant for each sample−natural release)×100/(histamine release bystimulation with A23187−natural release)}.

The histamine release inhibition (%) for a hop cold-water extractobtained under the same conditions as Example 2 and the hop extractsobtained in Comparative Examples 1-2 are shown in FIG. 3. As shown inFIG. 3, a very high percentage of histamine release inhibition wasobtained with the hop cold-water extract obtained under the sameconditions as Example 2, but no histamine release inhibition was foundwith the chloroform-methanol extract (Comparative Example 1) or the hotwater extract (Comparative Example 2).

Comparative Examples 3-5

After placing 100 g of hop pellets (Czech Saaz: type 90) in 1 L ofdistilled water, boiling for 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 60 minutes andcentrifuging at 7000 rpm for 15 minutes, the supernatant was collectedto obtain the extract (hot water extract). The extract obtained at 15minutes was used for Comparative Example 3, the extract obtained at 30minutes was used for Comparative Example 4, and the extract obtained at60 minutes was used for Comparative Example 5.

The cold-water extract obtained under the same conditions in Example 2and the hot water extracts of Comparative Examples 3-5 were used todetermine the histamine release inhibition (%) in the manner describedabove. The results are shown in FIG. 4 (individual data represented bycircles, and average values indicated by bars). As shown in FIG. 4, thehistamine release inhibition rate of the cold-water extract was about2-3 times superior to the hot water extracts.

The following experiment was conducted in order to determine whether ornot the reason for the low histamine release inhibition (%) inComparative Examples 3-5 was inactivation by heat. Specifically, thecold-water extract obtained under the same conditions as Example 2 and aheat treated extract (100° C., 30 min) were measured to determine thehistamine release inhibition (%) in the same manner as above. Theresults are shown in FIG. 5 (individual data represented by circles, andaverage values indicated by bars). As shown in FIG. 5, the cold-waterextract exhibited no loss of activity due to heat treatment. It wastherefore concluded that the hot water extracts of Comparative Examples3-5 differed from the cold-water extract of Example 2 in their activeingredients.

Examples 3-5

The type of hop and tissue were changed to obtain cold-water extracts inthe same manner as Example 1 or 2, and the histamine release inhibition(%) was calculated in the same manner as above. German HallertauerTradition pellets were used for Example 3, Kokusan Furano β pellets wereused in Example 4, and Kokusan hop young leaves were used in Example 5.The results for the histamine release inhibition (%) are shown in FIG.6. The same hops as in Example 2 (Czech Saaz pellets) are also listed inFIG. 6 as Example 2. As shown in FIG. 6, the superior hop varieties wereCzech Saaz, German Hallertauer Tradition and Kokusan Furano β, and theirleaves also had superior tissue.

Example 6 Inhibiting Action of Hop Water Extract on DNP-HSA-InducedAuricular Edema in Mice

Six-week-old ICR mice (male or female; Charles River Laboratories, JapanInc.) were separated into 4-5 per cage and raised at room temperature(24±2° C.) and 55±15% humidity, with a 12 hour light/dark cycle (light:8:00-20:00). After preparatory rearing for at least one week, they wereprovided for the test. A hop pellet water extract, hop leaf waterextract or ketotifen fumarate aqueous solution (10 mL/kg) was forcedlyadministered orally to each test group, while 10 mL/kg of distilledwater was forcedly administered orally to the control group. The hoppellet water extract was prepared by adding hop pellets (Czech Saaz) todistilled water to 10% (w/w) and extracting overnight at 4° C., and thencentrifuging at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes and filtering. The hop leafwater extract was prepared by adding dry hop leaves (Kokusan hop youngleaves) to distilled water to 10% (w/w) and extracting overnight at 4°C., and then centrifuging at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes and filtering. Theketotifen fumarate aqueous solution was prepared by dissolving indistilled water to a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL.

At 1 hour after oral administration, 20 μL of 10 mg/mL mouseanti-DNP-IgE antibody (Sigma) was intradermally injected into oneauricle of each mouse, while 20 μL of physiological saline (PS) wasintradermally injected into the other auricle. At 24 hours afterintradermal injection, 100 μL of 1 mg/mL DNP-HSA (antigen) was injectedthrough the caudal vein. The auricular thickness before antigenadministration and 30 minutes after antigen administration was measuredthree times each using a thickness gauge, and the auricular edema ratioand auricular thickness increase were determined. Significance testingbetween the groups was conducted by t-test. The auricular edema ratio(%) was calculated by the formula: (Mean auricular thickness 30 minutesafter antigen administration−mean auricular thickness before antigenadministration)×100/mean auricular thickness after antigenadministration, and the auricular thickness increase (mm) was calculatedby the formula: Mean auricular thickness 30 minutes after antigenadministration−mean auricular thickness before antigen administration.

FIG. 7 shows the auricular edema ratios for mice that were orallyadministered distilled water and hop (Czech Saaz) water extract. (PS inFIG. 7 stands for “physiological saline”). In the distilled water oraladministration group, the auricular thickness increase was 0.081±0.019mm with intradermal injection of IgE antibody, and the auricular edemaratio was 31.1±6.4(%). In the hop pellet water extract oraladministration group, the auricular thickness increase was 0.019±0.010mm with intradermal injection of IgE antibody, and the auricular edemaratio was 9.7±3.2(%). The hop pellet water extract-administered grouphad a significantly inhibited auricular edema ratio compared to thedistilled water-administered group (p<0.01). In contrast, no increase inauricular thickness was found with intradermal injection ofphysiological saline (PS) to either the control group or the testgroups.

FIG. 8 shows the auricular edema ratios for mice that were orallyadministered distilled water, hop pellet water extract, hop leaf waterextract or ketotifen fumarate aqueous solution. In the distilled wateroral administration group, the auricular thickness increase was0.081±0.024 mm with intradermal injection of IgE antibody, and theauricular edema ratio was 22.9±6.8%. In the group administered anaqueous solution of the chemical mediator release inhibitor ketotifenfumarate, however, the auricular thickness increase was 0.045±0.020 mmwith intradermal injection of IgE antibody, and the auricular edemaratio was 12.7±5.4%. The ketotifen fumarate aqueoussolution-administered group had a significantly inhibited auricularedema ratio compared to the distilled water-administered group (p<0.05).On the other hand, the hop pellet water extract-administered group andhop leaf water extract-administered group exhibited no statisticallysignificant difference compared to the distilled water-administeredgroup (critical region: 5%), but inhibition in auricular edema wassuggested (p value of 0.08).

1-16. (canceled)
 17. An isolated or purified composition comprising acold-water extract of hop tissue.
 18. The composition according to claim17, wherein the hop tissue is beer brewing hop tissue.
 19. Thecomposition according to claim 17, wherein the hop tissue is from hopstems, cones or leaves.
 20. The composition according to claim 17,wherein the hop tissue is a ground product of dried bract.
 21. Thecomposition according to claim 17, wherein the hop tissue is a groundproduct of dried cones from which at least a portion including lupulinand smaller components has been removed.
 22. The composition accordingto claim 21, wherein the ground product of dried cones is a groundproduct of frozen dried cones.
 23. The composition according to claim17, wherein the hop tissue is hop residue obtained by removing at leasta portion of the substances that are extracted by organic solventextraction or supercritical fluid extraction from dried cones.
 24. Thecomposition according to claim 17, wherein the cold-water extractcontains flavonoid glucosides.
 25. The composition comprising flavonoidglucosides separated from a cold-water extract of hop tissue.
 26. Thecomposition according to claim 25, wherein the flavonoid glucosides areflavonol glucosides.
 27. The composition according to claim 26, whichcontains kaempferol glucosides as the flavonol glucosides.
 28. Thecomposition according to claim 27, wherein the kaempferol glucosides areone or more selected from the group consisting of kaempferol rutinoside,astragalin and kaempferol malonylglucoside.
 29. The compositionaccording to claim 28 which further comprises quercetinmalonylglucosides as the flavonol glucosides.
 30. The composition ofclaim 17 wherein the cold-water extract has been produced using coldwater between 0° C. and 50° C.
 31. The composition of claim 17 whereinthe cold-water extract has been produced using cold water between 0° C.and 30° C.
 32. The composition of claim 17 wherein the cold-waterextract has been produced using cold water between 0° C. and 10° C. 33.The composition of claim 17 wherein the cold-water extract has beenproduced using a solution of cold water and alcohol, wherein the alcoholcontent does not exceed 10 wt. %.
 34. A drug comprising as an activeingredient the composition according to claim
 17. 35. A cosmeticcomprising the composition according to claim
 17. 36. A food or beveragecomprising the composition according to claim
 17. 37. A method forinhibiting release of a pharmacologically active amine or serotonin orboth comprising administering the composition of claim 17 to a subjectin need thereof.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein said subject has anallergic condition.
 39. A method of making the composition of claim 17,comprising immersing hop tissue in water at a temperature ranging from0° C. to 50° C. to obtain a liquid extract, and separating the liquidextract from solid components.
 40. The method of claim 39, comprisingimmersing the hop tissue in water at a temperature raging from 0° C. to30° C.
 41. The method of claim 39, comprising immersing the hop tissuein water at a temperature raging from 2° C. to 8° C.